May 1987: This photo shows Army personnel lining up a group of men from Hashimpura. Among those in the frame is Md Yaseen (in skullcap and beard), who went missing ever since. It was from one such photographs that Yaseen’s son identified him. With the number of victims not established, the prosecution used the photo as “clinching evidence” to build a case for compensation for 42 families, besides five survivors. (Source: Express photo by Praveen Jain)
Kaunain Sheriff M speaks to survivors of the Hashimpura killings and finds out how they have struggled for 27 years without compensation.
On January 8, while closing their arguments on the massacre of 1987 in Hashimpura, Meerut, senior advocates Rebecca John and Vrinda Grover made a case for compensation to survivors. For a mass killing in which the number of victims has never been established, and for which no survivor has got compensation in 27 years, their counsel submitted “clinching evidence” to help identify victims.
John placed a photo of Mohd Yaseen, then 65, clicked by Praveen Jain, then a photojournalist with Sunday Mail and now with The Indian Express. It was through this photo, placed on record as evidence, that Mohd Akhlaq had identified Yaseen, his father, who is suspected to have been one of the victims though his body was never found. Forty-two families had lost their loved ones, their counsel told the Tis Hazari courts.
On Saturday, the court referred Yaseen’s family and eight others to the Legal Services Authority for rehab. “Although the accused persons have to be acquitted in this case, this court also feels that [there is] requirement for rehabilitation of the victims and affected families,” additional sessions judge Sanjay Jindal ruled. Five of those referred are survivors — Mohd Naeem, and four The Indian Express spoke to.
In Hashimpura today, the houses are cramped and waste oozes out of damaged sewers. In one such house is the textile “factory” where Babuddin and Mujibur Rehman work. Both had suffered bullet injuries. “It has been like this for years. These sewers were laid before I was born,” Babuddin says. “I was 15 when the incident happened. For five years, I would be scared of almost everything.” Babuddin and Rehman, both from Darbhanga, went back to their villages but later came back. “We earn Rs 5,000. We stay on the rooftop of the factory,” say Rehman.
About the compensation, Rehman says, “Do you see this mohalla? Only two Hindu families live here. Governments have come and gone. No one cared for us then; why will they do so now?” Babuddin and Mujibur have two children each, all in school back home.
‘Told Rajiv he didn’t visit’
Zulfiqar Nasir
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In a dim metal workshop in Meerut, Zulfiqar helps his father Abdul Jabbar. “We use to have this workshop at Hashimpura. We late moved out. Four families depend on this workshop,” says Zulfiqar, eldest of three, who looks after the workshop as well as his brothers’ businesses. “Had I been better educated, I could have looked after my brothers well,” says Zulfiqar.
“I was injured in the armpit. I have fought for every family affected,” he says. “When Rajiv Gandhi came for a padayatra, he did not even enter the mohalla. Whom did he fear, the Muslims? I was stopped, but I went to him and told him you did not bother to give us compensation, but could at least have made an attempt to visit us.” His father counters, “Chandrashekarji held a press conference with my son. Everyone heard us that day, but the government comfortably chose to ignore us.”
‘Can’t Expect anything’
Mohd Usman
“I don’t go there. It is too painful ,” says Usman, now 64, the eldest of the survivors. He left Hashimpura after the joint family fell into debt and sold off their house. Usman, who has carried a limp since he was shot in the leg, now sells fruits at the market. Any mention of compensation makes him angry. “For two months, I was at AIIMS. The police, government knew it but did not give a paisa for my treatment. Do you think I can expect something from them now?”
As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues.
He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations.
Areas of Expertise
Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety.
Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps.
Global Collaborations
Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects:
The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry.
Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time.
Awards & Recognition
His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors:
Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia)
Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club)
Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots).
Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision.
Social media
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99
X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More
May 1987: This photo shows Army personnel lining up a group of men from Hashimpura. Among those in the frame is Md Yaseen (in skullcap and beard), who went missing ever since. It was from one such photographs that Yaseen’s son identified him. With the number of victims not established, the prosecution used the photo as “clinching evidence” to build a case for compensation for 42 families, besides five survivors. (Source: Express photo by Praveen Jain)
